Antivapor-gland.



31 E. LEA.

ANTIVAPOR GLAND.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 30, 1909.

Patented June 8, 1909.

JAMES EDWARD LEA, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

AN TIVAPOR-GLAN D.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed March so, 1909. Serial No. 486,738.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES EDWARD LEA, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, and resident of Manchester, England, have inventeda new or Improved Antivapor- Gland Chiefly for Use with Measuring andRecording Apparatus, of which the following is a specification:

In using the instrument forming the subject of Letters Patent No. 815102A. D. 1906 in the measurement of water from which steam is rising, as inthe case of water of condensation from an engine, there. is a casing ofthe instrument and tarnishing liability of the steam vapor entering theor corroding, and therefore interfering with the ro er working of, themetal parts. A simiar ifiiculty arises when the instrument is used inthe measurement of chemical liquids from which fumes arise, and evenunder ordinary conditions moisture from the atmosphere is liable toenter the casing and interfere with the instrument. The vapor enters thecasing through the opening in which works the float rod, and as such rodrequires to be perfectly free to move up and down, it follows that anordinary packed joint cannot be used owing to excessive friction. Toovercome the difficulty this invention consists in using two plates,each faced up to a true lane, and, when lying face to face, adapted toprevent the passage of any vapor or gaseous substance between them. Theplates are each formed with a central aperture and when in position liearound the float rod, but While the aperture in one is only veryslightly larger than the float rod, the a erture in the other issomewhat larger. he late with the larger aperture is fixed to tliecasing of the instrument and lies around the opening through which thefloat rod passes. The plate with the smaller aperture is loose and restsupon the fixed plate. With the plates thus arranged and their surfaceslying in contact they afford an effective seal against the ingiess ofvapor, etc., into the casing. The

ed plate is preferably flanged and slightly cupped so as to serve inholding a supply of oil, which finding its-way between the contactingfaces of the plates serves to lubricate them, and also to create asuction by which the loose plate is prevented readily leaving the fixedplate. The loose plate is also cupped or counter-sunk for the receptionof oil, which finding its way in film form between the plate and rodcloses the space between the rod and plate.

Upon the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a verticalcross-section of the recording instrument forming the subject of thesaid prior patent, with the present invention shown applied thereto.Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate, to a larger scale, the improved anti-vaporgland separately in transverse sectional elevation and Ian respectively.

As shown, a is the flhor of the casing in which the recording instrumentis inclosed.

b is the fioat rod, which is guided loosely in brackets b.

c is the fixed gland plate and dis the loose gland plate. The contactingfaces of the plates are made to a true plane, consequently little ornothing can pass between them. The plate 0 is provided with screw holes0' for enabling it to be fixed to the floor a. It is also formed with aflange c and with a re, cessed part 0 whereby the plate may form an oilcup. Centrally in the plate is the orifice c which in diameter is largerthan the float rod 1).

In the plate dis the central orifice d which in diameter is such as toallow the plate to fit the rod as closely as possible while allowing itto be free to remain at rest while the rod moves up or down. The plate dis fairly thick in order to have sufficient weight to remain on theplate 0. Owing to the close contact of the plates, and especially whencoated with a thin film of oil, there is also a slight suction tocounter-act any tendency of the plate (1 to rise.

By this invention the exclusion of vapor, etc, from the interior of therecorder casing is very complete. Prior to the use of the invention anyvapor entering the casing caused a rusting of the metal parts, and, whatwas more serious, a disfigurement of the record, inasmuch that the inkused was caused to run and give a blurred outline.

What I claim is z In the recording instrument herein referred to andincluding the casing for inclosing such instrument in the floor of whichis i an orifice, and also including the rod which passes through thesaid orifice, the combination therewith of a plate having a centralOIlfice and a slightly raisedface around the said orifice and alsohaving an upstanding annular flange lying concentric to the orifice,such plate being fixed to the floor of the said casmg and concentricallyto the orifice therein,

and a further plate of smaller diameter than i plate is only such as toallow the rod to move the inner-diameter of the said annular flange lvertically through it,fsubstantially as herein and loosely resting uponthe raised face of set forth.

the first named plate, and such further plate In witness whereof I havehereunto set my 5 upon ilts undei1 face being also iionncd to1 a hand inthe presence of two Witnesses.

true 3 ane, an having a centra orifice, t 1e said iod passing looselythrough the orifices JAMES EDWARD in the two plates, and the orifice inthe fixed \Vitnesses:

plate being such as to allow of any lateral F. G. PENNINGTQN, 10movement of the rod while that of the loose I P. D. BAILEY.

